[Thorough Review!!] Antelope Audio / Zen Go Synergy Core

I had the impression that ANTELOPE AUDIO was a brand that only produces high-end recording equipment such as master clocks and audio interfaces. However, this time ANTELOPE AUDIO has put out a high-performing yet affordable audio interface that can be a great option for anyone from beginners to experienced users!
I am going to review how much ANTELOPE AUDIO has packed their high quality audio specs into this compact body, and I’m eager to see its versatility.

ANTELOPE AUDIO / Zen Go Synergy Core Audio Interface

INDEX

• Features Seen from the Product Name
• Functional Features
• Soundcheck
• Controls
• Two Headphone Outputs
• 37 Antelope FX
• Loopback

First, let’s unravel the features of the Zen Go Synergy Core from its name!

■ Zen
“Zen” is the name of this series and it has a high-end desktop audio interface called Zen Tour Synergy Core.
The desktop type audio interfaces are grouped together as the Zen series.
The name Zen comes from the Japanese word Zen. The president of ANTELOPE AUDIO is devoted to Asian culture, so this series was named after Zen Buddhism. ANTELOPE AUDIO also has a monitor controller called “Satori”, which in Japanese means “enlightenment”! The name of the AD/DA converter model by ANTELOPE AUDIO “Amari” is taken from the name of the Hindu goddess.

■ Go
Among the audio interfaces from the Zen series, the functionality of the Zen Go Synergy Core is simpler, the body is smaller and it’s lighter in weight. “Go” indicates that this audio interface is portable and it is easy to carry when on-the-go.

■ Synergy Core
Equipped with FPGA and DSP chips, take advantage of the high-quality Antelope FX without burdening your computer.
The Zen Go Synergy Core comes with 37 free effects such as compressor, EQ, reverb and amp simulator.

When the Zen Go Synergy Core was just released, several issues were reported that the volume of headphones was low and stuck in phase inversion, but now all of the issues have been resolved with a firmware update.
And now, how has the Zen Go Synergy Core been improved as a product?

Let’s take a look at the functional features of this audio interface.

First, play some music to see the ability of the AD/DA converter.
It sounds solid in any range from low to high. From dynamic bass to delicate synth sounds, sensitivities in the sound patches are clearly reproduced. The clarity of the Zen Go Synergy Core stands out among the audio interfaces of the same price range.
The preamp has a quality that is extremely close to the high-end models, and it produces an amazing sound with the warmth of the analog while firmly keeping the wide range. It is a chewy sound that makes you doubt for a moment that it runs on bus power.

The buttons and operating system on the Zen Go Synergy Core are similar to those of the Discrete series, and are simpler than expected.
Therefore, you can speedily respond with the input/output volume control, muting monitor speakers/headphones, and controls that require intuition during recordings.
Press and hold the knob while controlling the input gain to activate phantom power, or press and hold the knob while controlling the output gain to dim (the volume drops down to the specific volume at once). It’s very helpful that the essential controls can be easily manipulated on the hardware.

Personally, it’s a good selling point that the Zen Go Synergy Core has two headphone outputs!
In most cases when recording on the go, the headphone outputs of the operator and the player need to be separate, so it is very useful to be able to send two different systems from the interface.
Of course, you can control the volume of both headphones individually.
Monitor different sources as separate output. It’s easy for the operator to monitor the overall sound from a bird’s-eye view while the player is listening to click track or other tracks needed during recording.
It is also useful for live performances where you want to send just a click track to the drummer.

The Zen Go Synergy Core, like the other Synergy Core series interfaces, has an FPGA processor and DSP chip, allowing you to select from the rich Antelope FX options without burdening your computer.
So far, it was limited to only recording effects, but with the firmware update, the Zen Go Synergy Core is now compatible with afx2daw! The afx2daw can be inserted into your DAW software as a plug-in to apply effects!
The afx2daw plug-in is usually available as an option, but thanks to the ANTELOPE AUDIO campaign currently going on, you can get it along with a bundled 15 additional effects!

【NEWS】ANTELOPE AUDIO Limited Time Offer
*Until November 30, 2021

First, let’s try the recording effects.
Very few steps are required to apply an effect; just insert an effect from the included mixer software into the track you want to add the effect!

Now, you got the effect on the monitor signal.
Next, record onto the DAW software as it is to record the sound with the effect.
By setting the routing, you can record both the sound with and without the effect. I recommend doing it this way so you can also keep the dry sound that you can edit later.
This routing setting is also very easy to use, so I’m showing you how to do it. Just switch PREAMP 2 to PREAMP 1 for CH2, and set the DAW software to record both CH1 and CH2!

And now let’s check out the effect insertion on the afx2daw.
As mentioned before, it’s very easy to just insert the afx2daw as DAW software plug-in!
You can use it just like a normal plug-in, so it is especially easy to create sounds for modeling effects of the vintage equipment to enjoy subtle changes in tone color.

However, since the afx2daw does not support offline bounce, you need to manually write it to another track in advance when you complete the sound creation.

The Zen Go Synergy Core has a loopback function that can be useful for streaming.
With this function, you can add the sound played on the computer as is to your streaming, or record it on your DAW software.

Check out the link to learn what the loopback function is.

『I want to output the sound on the PC together with distribution etc."Models with loopback"』

When using the Zen Go for streaming, the combination of this loopback and Antelope FX is awesome!
For example, you can use the loopback to play the orchestra while applying powerful Antelope FX to the vocals when streaming vocals.
With reverb, preamp, EQ, compressor, and even the Edge Solo mic can emulate vintage mic modeling, so you can get the most out of your vocal sound.

Summary

I tried out the Zen Go Synergy Core again to realize that it was a unique device with huge possibilities. The high sound quality and the flexibility with various functions literally creates synergies.
Recently, ANTELOPE AUDIO has released a USB microphone called Axino Synergy Core, and the brand is greatly expanding their field. This brand originally led the pro audio industry with the top master clock market share. However, ANTELOPE AUDIO is still creating history with their experiences and reliable technology. Don’t miss their upcoming chapters!!